Terry Bogard is an all-rounder character with simple combos and game flow.
Pros
Cons
Simple: Terry is commonly recommended for beginners in KoF. He's a very straightforward character who's easy to pick up and learn. His moves are pretty safe on block and his good combos are some of the easiest ones in the game. He gets a very long confirm from heavy attacks which further simplifies his combo flow. Burn Knuckle spam might be a bad habit, but it's still an abusable move that may work as a "crutch" if you're new to KoF.
Good Meterless Combos: Terry doesn't need bar to be good, his meterless combos easily deal 28-30% damage with decent confirms and hard knockdown.
Not Much Damage For Meter: Terry's Max mode damage for 2 bar is very average, and his 3 bar SDM combo is almost useless.
Mediocre Reversal: Unlike in '98, Terry only has 1 true reversal (d~u+C) that needs to be charge and is very unsafe too.
Limited Mixups: Terry's simplicity has its downsides. While not quite as "barebones" as 02OG Terry, he doesn't really have that much to open up an opponent, beside some overhead blockstring enders and going for guard crush. He has an OK high/low game and a crossup, but not much to confuse the opponent up close.
Average Anti-Airs: Terry has Burn Knuckle and a good long st.B, but beside that, there isn't much to control the hop space for him. His qcf+A is a very low projectile, and with no real DP move, he can't really stop jumps and hops on reaction. qcb+K and dp+K both have weaknesses and hardly make his anti-air game better.
Terry Bogard is a classic SNK hero whose popularity has spread far beyond his original series, Fatal Fury. He is a simple character akin to Street Fighter's shotos, with simple combos and easy to use specials, and this made him a go-to pick for beginners in the game. Terry doesn't really have any crazy mixups or tricks to him, but he makes up for it with good meterless damage, nice blockstrings, and abusable moves like Burn Knuckle.
That said, Terry doesn't really have much beside that. His "shoto" tools aren't actually strong, and although he has a lot of different specials, half of them are somewhat gimmicky. In this game, he also lacks a good DP and has to rely on a very unsafe charge reversal, which puts him a bit behind most other "simple" characters. Last but not least, his combos with meter are also very average.
Regardless, Terry is a good pick for those looking to learn KoF, and a decent "battery" character.
Normals
Close
cl.A/B/C/D are cancel-able
cl.A hits crouching opponents and is chain-able into itself, cl.B, cr. B, cr. A, df+C
cl.C is the main combo starter. Fast, hits twice and cancelable on both hits.
cl.D is very similar to cl.C, except it hits once. Marginally slower, but works a little better as a meaty, and may help get more damage in some combos due to pushback. Can be interchanged with cl.C in most combos.
Standing
st. A & st C are special cancel-able
st. A is fast and works ok vs short hop, but the range could be longer. Can combo into st. B, and df+C. Whiffs on low crouchers.
st. B is a great long poke that comes out fast and hits very far. Very nice to stop and interrupt a grounded opponent. May do as anti-air vs hop in a pinch, but doesn't reach high enough for this purpose.
st.C is decent vs hop.
st. D moves Terry forward a bit, and pushes him back on block.
Crouching
cr.A/B/C/D are all special cancel-able
cr.B/C/D are all whiff cancel-able
cr.B is the main low combo starter. Chains into itself, cr. A, st.A, and st.B. Usually for combos you want to cancel it into df+C, and then any special/DM.
cr.C is a forward punch, decent as a poke and can start combos too. Slower than cl.C/cl.D but has more range.
cr.D is a little slow, but long and cancelable. Very nice to cancel into qcb+B, qcb+A or qcf+A on block or on whiff.
Jumping
j.A is ok for air to ground and air-to-air attacks
j.B is good to use for air-to-air and to stop incoming hops and jumps from a mid to long range distance, can be low profiled if performed too early in jump. Stays out for a long time. Great upwards angle that reaches slightly above Terry.
j.C is good for air to ground, faster than j.D.
j.D is good for air to ground and can cross up standing and crouching opponents easily. Long reach, but a little slow.
neutral j.D can be used for air-to-air but it has a more vertical hit box
Blowback
CD: pretty fast startup, good ranged hit box, pushes terry back far on block, whiff cancel-able
j.CD: good air-to-air attack, and can be used to pressure the opponent in the corner, but can be low profiled
Throws
Grasping (b/f + C) close
Terry grabs the opponent then uppercuts them (df+C animation). The opponent lands near the corner of the screen.
Soft knockdown
Buster Throw - (b/f + D) close
Grabs and slams opponent in opposite direction. The opponent lands 1 character space away from the corner of the screen.
This throw is great for okizeme setups like cross-ups with j.D or empty jump low mixups, etc.
Hard knockdown
Command Moves
Rising Upper - (df + C)
This is Terry's command normal uppercut. Good to use in combos before a special move or DM, although harder to input than his other command normal, f+A. It can be used as an anti-air similar to uppercut normals. Can also be used as an extra "button" for Terry that acts as a fast cancelable attack like cl.C, but works from any range. Pretty safe if done on block.
Combo Advice: Very useful for Terry, since you can combo it from light attacks and cr.B, and then connect any special/DM after it. A bit inconvenient input though, you need to cancel it very quick and doing a HCF move after holding DF can be tricky. Does 2–3% more damage than f+A, so you can use it instead of the latter in combos for more damage.
Special cancel-able
Hammer Punch - (f + A)
Terry takes a large step forward to deliver a low aiming hook punch that hits overhead. As with most command normals of this kind, it's not cancelable when done by itself (or "raw"), but becomes cancelable when you combo into it (albeit losing its overhead properties). As an overhead, it actually has surprisingly long range, and goes almost half screen distance. Easy to use in most combos.
Combo Advice: Very nice "combo filler" move for Terry. Comboes only from heavy attacks, but gives more than enough time to confirm and input a followup. Be careful using f+A on block though, cl.C xx f+A is not a true blockstring and technically can be punished by some fast moves, so it's best to cancel it for safety. When done raw, may be used as a starter for Max Mode combos.
Hits overhead
Special cancel-able if cancelled from other normals
Special Moves
Power Wave - (qcf + A)
A simple low projectile that travels fast. As with most moves of this kind, it's not well fit to control air (as it can be hopped over easily), but works for zoning a grounded opponent and as a blockstring ender. A good move to cancel long attacks into, e.g. cr.C, sweep, or st.CD.
Combo Advice: not really a move you'll see in combos, but works ok for blockstrings and frametraps.
Round Wave - (qcf + C)
Energy explosion around Terry's fist. Has a pretty short range and launches on hit. It won't combo from any normal, but if it connects, you can cancel it into any special (except qcf+A; note that supercanceling it will cost extra bar, as with other specials). Generally, the overall best option is to cancel it into qcb+A for safety on block and damage on hit, other options may whiff from far or be unsafe.
The most obvious purpose of this move is as a frametrap / guard crush move, as it allows you eat away opponent's guard bar pretty quickly, and you get a combo if you catch the opponent mashing. It works as a blockstring ender, but you will need to be pretty close for it to connect (e.g. after blocked cl.D > f+A).
Combo Advice: Will only combo in a juggle, but does have its uses in Max Mode and st.CD/j.CD counter combos.
Soft knockdown
Special cancel-able
Super cancel-able
Burn Knuckle - (qcb + A/C)
Terry charges with a glowing fist that will knock down on hit. Light version starts faster and travels one third of the screen; heavy version starts very slow, travels full screen, and has a bit more priority. Light punch version is the one that is usually used; it's easy to combo into, and hard to punish if spaced on the tip, making it very popular on beginner level of play. Heavy version is not used much, it's very unsafe if thrown from anywhere but fullscreen away, and that is still easy to react to and avoid/punish.
While it may seem like Terry's strongest move to some, its startup is way too slow to be good as an anti-air or poke, and in most cases it leaves you at neutral on block, so overrelying on this move can backfire. Also, beware that it can be low profiled by some attacks.
Combo Advice: Only the light version will combo from normals. Makes for an easy and safe combo ender, but may not combo properly from further ranges, and gets completely overshadowed by Power Charge for knockdown and damage. No juggle properties either, so virtually useless in Max Mode.
Soft knockdown
Quick Burning - (dp + A/C)
One close uppercut followed by a long range overhead blow. Heavy and light version are basically the same. Comes out very fast. Doesn't knock down, so not exactly the best combo ender. -5 on block, but quite safe due to pushback. The 2nd hit is always an overhead. From distance, only the 2nd hit connects, in this case it does more damage. The move is useful as a long range overhead to catch people off guard when done on the tip, especially at the end of blockstrings. Works OK as a fast punisher for moves within its range due to its speed.
Combo Advice: While not required per se for any meterless combos, it can be used for an easy combo route from light/heavy attacks if other ones are too hard for you, but there are simply better options for this. Useful in Max Mode to add a bit more damage and give time to input other motions during it. Can be supercanceled on the 1st hit, this has to be done very quick though so it's pretty hard to perform, and the shorter range limits combo options, so it doesn't add much to any damage over other routes.
Super Cancel-able (1st hit)
Hits overhead (2nd hit)
Power Dunk - (dp + B/D)
Rising knee followed by a punch to the ground. Looks like a DP, but alas, it has no invincibility whatsoever, so it's not a reversal at all. Can be used as an anti-air, but may get beaten easily. It has bad recovery on whiff, and is easy to punish if blocked up close. The opponent can roll in between the first and second hit if blocked. The second is not an overhead as it may seem, but it causes a hard knockdown if the first hit launched, giving Terry decent okizeme options such as ambiguous roll, crossup, etc.
Combo Advice: Gets overshadowed by other options in meterless combos, but comes very useful in Max Mode.
Hard knockdown
Power Charge - (hcf + B/D)
Lunging attack which pops opponent into the air. Can be cancelled on block and on hit into Power Dunk/Rising Tackle (the latter is harder though, but more damaging). By itself it doesn't deal much damage, but with the followups deal much more. Both versions deal same amount of damage; light version starts up fast, heavy version is slower but goes further. Both are unsafe on block, even if canceled.
This move is key for Terry in this game, giving him consistent combos with good damage and hard knockdown, which makes it a preferred combo ender instead of Burn Knuckle (except for blockstrings). B version also works as a punisher with good range. It's not safe on block, but you can easily confirm into it, so don't forget to do that. Shouldn't be used as a poke or thrown randomly on block.
The d~u+C followup does 6% more damage than dp+D, but causes soft knockdown and is much harder to perform (not recommended for beginners). You need to charge "down" during hcf+K to get it, there's a very short time to charge the move so it's very tricky to get it right. It's best to do it from hcf+D as it gives you more time to charge before the hit. Start holding d immediately after hcf (in one motion, like hcf, d), then u+P as Power Charge hits.
Combo Advice: This move is the backbone of meterless combos for Terry. Easily comboes from heavy attacks and command normals. Can also be comboed from light attacks if you cancel them into df+C first, then into hcf+K. Also comes in handy in his max mode juggles. Can be supercanceled outside of max mode, but this is barely worth the meter.
Super Cancel-able
Soft knockdown (if done without followup)
Rising Tackle - Charge (d~u + A/C)
Rising attack spinning punches, aimed at the feet first. Best used as a reversal & anti-air because of its quick start-up, more-so the heavy punch version. Both punch versions are highly unsafe if whiffed or blocked. Light version doesn't go very high and doesn't have invincibility on hit; heavy version travels farther vertically than the light punch version, and is invincible on 1st hit, meaning it won't trade vs buttons. Heavy version is the only meterless reversal Terry has; usually it is the only version that gets used because light version isn't much safer, while dealing less damage.
Combo Advice: Not much point in using it in meterless combos, as Terry has plenty better options for this. Can be used instead of dp+K in some metered combos though, although it does about same damage there.
Super Cancel-able
Soft knockdown
Crack Shoot - (qcb + B/D)
Terry does a flip kick that doesn't knock down, but may launch an airborne opponent. Light kick version starts up faster, has short range and is harder to punish on block, while the heavy kick version travels further, but is slower, less safe and will whiff on most crouchers; B version usually preferred. This move has some use as a preemptive anti-air against mid to long range jumps or full jumps that isn't too bad on whiff or block, but that said it lacks priority of DP-kind moves. You may get a juggle after it on anti-air hit, but alas, the only thing that will consistently connect after it is j.B, so not much damage, and you only get a reset after it with barely any frame advantage; j.C may or may not connect depending on many factors. Also, qcb+B is OK to whiff cancel buttons into for safety. Otherwise, not many uses.
Combo Advice: Not really useful in any combos per se, may do as a blockstring ender in a pinch, but really Terry has plenty better options for this.
B version hits twice; D version hits once
Doesn't knockdown opponent if hit
Hits mid
Desperation Moves
Power Geyser - (d, db, b, db, f + P / can be input as d, b, f+P)
Terry creates a big pillar of energy that reaches very high. It may be used as an anti-air, however the startup is quite slow, so it's hard to react with it to jumps, let alone hops, and throwing it randomly / on block is quite unsafe. This move has a period of full invincibility on the startup, but after it Terry only has some upper body invincibility until the geyser comes out; for this reason, and because of its slow startup, Power Geyser is not quite reliable as a reversal, although it might work in a pinch. In the end, Geyser is mostly used in combos, unless you get a very good read for an anti-air or reversal. Could be used as a punisher, but with its slow speed, you may have time to simply run in an do a combo from cl.C for more damage.
Combo Advice: Geyser is a standard ender for 1 bar combos and 2 bar max mode ones.
Soft knockdown
22% dmg
High Angle Geyser - (qcf x 2 + K)
This is pretty much a Desperation Move version of three moves, his Power Charge, Power Dunk and it ends with his Power Geyser Desperation Move. Light version has very fast startup, heavy version is a little slower but goes further. Despite looking like a DP, this move has no invincibility, so it should not be used as a reversal. This move works best as a punisher, as it is fast and goes pretty far. However, it doesn't work vs airborne opponent very well, usually whiffing hits, so beware of using it as an anti-air or in juggle combos, because it could easily drop the opponent and leave you open for a punish; it's best used vs a grounded opponent only. Also be careful when using it on tip as the last hit may also whiff in this case.
Combo Advice: Does a bit less damage than Power Geyser and doesn't juggle well, so no real point in using this move in combos. Still, if you feel like it, you can use it instead of the Geyser in 1 bar BnBs, just don't rely on it in juggles as it will most likely not combo properly.
Soft knockdown
20% dmg
Super Desperation Move
Power Geyser - (d, db, b, db, f + AC / can be input as d, b, f+AC)
A triple power geyser. This is the more beefed up version of the single stock DM. It can be used in the same situations as the normal Desperation Move Power Geyser but be careful that the opponent can Guard Cancel Roll the 2nd or 3rd geyser and punish Terry while he is recovering.
Combo Advice: Sadly, this move will often whiff hits during juggles, so it's preferred for combos on grounded opponent only. And alas, even in max mode, it hardly will help deal much damage.
Soft knockdown
32% dmg
Hidden Super Desperation Move
Rising Force - (qcf x 2 + AC)
Terry performs an energized shoulder tackle, Power Charge into a Rising Tackle. One of the more easier HSDM's to combo into in the game. Only disadvantages is that it has no invincibility, the start-up isn't as fast as his High Angle Geyser, and it doesn't reach full screen as it may look. Overall, it's best to use as a combo finisher.
Soft Knockdown
Combos
Written as is, you can add a jump-in to every combo.
You can always use cl.D instead of cl.C, same damage and 1f slower but less pushback, which may help.
You can always replace cl.C, f+A with cr.B, cr.A/cr.B, df+C for a low version, 2% more damage but a somewhat tighter combo, especially if it's a max combo.
You can use df+C instead of f+A in every non-max combo for 3% more damage but a much tighter input and confirm, f+A is preferred.
qcb,db,f+P has a weird input shortcut being just d,b,f+P and thanks to that, dp+B(1)/d~u+C(1), (SC) qcb,db,f+P has an equally weird shortcut being dp+B(1)/d~u+C(1), (SC) b,f+P
0 Stock
Anywhere
★ cl.C, f+A, hcf+D, dp+D = 28% dmg
Main BnB combo into hard knockdown. Cancel hcf+D into dp+D on hit. You can end with d~u+C instead of dp+D for 6% extra dmg, but it requires charging d immediately after hcf+D without much leeway, so beware of dropping it. d~u+C also causes a soft knockdown, so dp+D is preferred. dp+B deals less damage, but puts the opponent slightly further away, which might be desirable if you want to set up a crossup or ambiguous roll.
★ cr.B, cr.A/cr.B, df+C, hcf+D, dp+D = 30% dmg
Main low BnB into hard knockdown, much tighter than the above because of df+C's short cancel window but absolutely worth learning. No shortcuts here, but finding the earliest you can let go df to still get df+C and go straight to hcf+D after may help. The timing for the d~u+C ender is harder than the previous one.
cl.C, f+A, qcb+A = 26% dmg
Entirely inferior to the main BnB on hit but the decent f+A frametrap and qcb+A's relative safety on block makes it a nice blockstring. Though, ending with qcf+A is even safer on block.
cr.B, cr.A/cr.B/cl.B, d~u+C/dp+D = 25% dmg
Slightly easier but non-optimal combo from lows.
1 Stock
Anywhere
★ cl.C, f+A, qcb,db,f+P = 37% dmg
Standard 1 bar combo with soft knockdown. A bit more damage than 0 bar one, use it when you have bar to burn for a little extra damage.
2 Stocks
You can omit cl.C and start every max combo with f+A for an overhead starter.
Anywhere
cl.C, f+A, hcf+D, (SC) qcb,db,f+P = 42% dmg
Does a little more than the 1 bar version. Simple, but barely worth spending extra bar.
Most consistent version of the midscreen optimal max mode. To avoid getting qcfx2+B when canceling into hcf+B, you can input dp+K a bit early during dp+P and use the button hold technique (hold K), this way you will have a pause before hcf+B to avoid the overlap; also, you can either properly end the dp+B on df, input it as hcb,f+B or skip the df in hcf+B. Good if you can land it.
Great corner carry but that's about it, not worth it. You need to delay the second dp+B on a 2f window. Same note as above regarding accidental qcfx2+B.
[Blocked] cl.C(2), BC run, dp+P(2), [ (C) hcf+D, (C) dp+P(2) ]x2, (C) qcb+B [Guard Break] 0 bar combo
The run is pretty tight and thanks to max mode the 0 bar combo is scaled at 50%. The worst is that cl.C or cr.B after guard break is a 1f link, you can't use cl.D here nor instead of the first cl.C(2). Not a good guard break combo whatsoever.
Max damage though the run is very tight and the combo somewhat inconsistent, not worth it. To avoid getting qcfx2+B when canceling into hcf+B, you can input dp+K a bit early during dp+P and use the button hold technique (hold K), this way you will have a pause before hcf+B to avoid the overlap; also, you can either properly end the dp+B on df, input it as hcb,f+B or skip the df in hcf+B.
Most consistent version of the optimal corner max mode. qcf+C will only connect very close to the corner. Same note as above regarding accidental qcfx2+B. Good if you can land it.
Max damage though the run is very tight and the combo somewhat inconsistent, not worth it. qcf+C will only connect very close to the corner. Same note as above regarding accidental qcfx2+B.
3 Stocks
cl.C, f+A, qcfx2+AC / qcb,db,f+AC = 56% / 48% dmg
Simpler versions of 3 bar combos without max run. Easy, but the damage is lacking for the amount of meter spent.
Better than the combo above, but still lower than average damage for 3 bar. The SDM ender, 53%, doesn't do much more than the optimal 2 bar route, so stick to that one if you can do it.
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